Corrosion of the rope or end attachments.

Hooks that are twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of an unbent hook.

Hooks that have been opened more that 15% of the normal throat opening measured at the narrowest point.

Cracked, deformed, or worn end attachments.

Kinking, crushing, birdcaging, or any other damage resulting in distortion of the wire rope structure.

Ten randomly-distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or five broken wires in one strand of one rope lay.

Safety is the prime consideration on all jobs and the user must inspect a sling before each lift, and must remove the sling from service upon observation of any of the following conditions: However, many industries are presently without standards. Slings used in selected industries are presently covered by specific codes seffing standards for the removal of a sling from service. A manufacturer’s Rated Capacity applies only to an undamaged sling.

A visual inspection of the sling must be conducted before each lift to make sure the sling is in new or near new condition. In any case when lifting headroom is restricted and a larger leg angle is necessary, care must be exercised in selecting a sling with a proper Rated Capacity at the leg angle which will be used.The sling must also be proper to allow the user to select a hitch that will conform to the shape of the load and keep it under control during the lift, The use of multiple leg slings is not recommended when the angle between any leg and the vertical is greater than 450 Selection of a sling to lift a load is based on selecting a sling with a Rated Capacity at least equal to the weight of the load. The design factor used in the calculation of a sling’s Rated Capacity compensates for normal dynamic loading and builds useful life into the sling. A sling should never be used to lift a load that is greater than the published “Rated Capacity” for the particular sling and for the type of hitch being used. Slings have a “Rated Capacity” that is determined by the manufacturer. The term “Breaking Strength” is never used with reference to slings. It must be removed from service when normal wear or accidental damage weakens the sling to the degree that an adequate factor of safety no longer exists. The end point in a wire rope sling’s useful service life is prior to the failure of the sling. However, as is the case with any machine, a sling requires care and must be inspected to determine if its condition is such that a lift can be safely made. A wire rope sling is a safe tool when properly selected to meet the requirements of the lift, and when used in a safe, workmanlike manner.

A sling is an assembly designed to connect a load to be lifted or turned to a lifting device such as the hook on a crane.

Rigging sling chart